Load binder for lttmber carriers



July 10, 1928. 1,676,638

.1. s. EASTHAM LOAD BINDER FOR LUMBER CARRIERS Filed Oct. 25, 1926 .E-Wm 1 Z hTTUR/VEV Patented July 10, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH S. EASTHAM, OF PORTLAND, OREGON, ASSIGNOR TO WILLAMETTE IRON AND STEEL WORKS, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

LOAD BINDER FOR LUMBER CARRIERS.

Application filed October 25, 1926.

binder for lumber carriers which will com-' pletely bind the load in position.

The second object is to provide a binder which will automatically limit the height of the pile handled, thereby obtaining ample clearance under the load when moved.

The third object is to eliminate the usual loss of time and money caused by the spilling of loads, especially noticeable with smooth or planed lumber.

The fourth object is to so construct the binder that. it will require no additional labor to operate same.

The fifth object is to so construct the hinder that it will be easy to manufacture and install and that it has no parts which will be affected by wear during the life of the carrier.

The sixth object is to make same adaptable to. any type of lumber carrier with a special regard to those straddling a pile of lumber,

which is the type now in common use.

The seventh ob ect is to eliminate the usual strains on a lumber carrier caused by wabbling loads, which are ordinarily a big factor in causing the carriers to turn over, or extremely hard on the carrier themselves, or cause undue wear on the tires of the carriers Wheels.

These, and other objects, will become more apparent from the specification following as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a carrier showing the approximate position at which these binders are placed. Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken along the line 22 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing the elements of the binder.

Similar numbers of reference refer to similar parts throughout the views.

Referring in detail to the drawing, in order to illustrate this invention there is indicated a representative type of carrier including the wheels 10, the forks 11, cross beams 12 and side frames 13 over which is placed a deck 14, upon which is placed the usual power plant and steering mechanism.

Serial No. 143,982.

Longitudinal and diagonal braces 15 and 16 are placed on the sides of the carrier.

The binder itself consists of angular clips 17 to which is riveted the vertical standard 18, preferably made up of two spaced angle irons having mounted between same, near the upper end, a sheave 19 and having their lowor ends joined together by a plate 20 through which slidably passed an eye bolt 21 on whose lower end is placed a heavy spring 22 which bears against the washer 23, under which is placed a nut 24.

The angles of the standard 18 are riveted or otherwise secured to the diagonal braces 16 by means of an angular clip 25. Attached. to the eye bolt 21 is a cable 26 by means of a clamp 27. The cable 26 passes over the sheave 19 and then horizontally across the carrier to a corresponding sheave 19 and fastens to a similar eye bolt 21 on the opposite side of the carrier. That portion of the cable 26 which can engage the lumber 28 is preferably covered with a piece of rubber hose 26 to prevent the cable from damaging the wood.

It is to be understood that when lumber is handled by these carriers it is piled upon blocks 29 having, in some cases, a plate 30 on the upper side thereof. The carriers themselves are provided with inturned lifting angles 31 which can pick up and carry bodily the load of lumber 28. It will be noted that the cable 26 inside of the rubber hose 26 is somewhat below the cross beams 12 against which the load should never hear, since under the action of the powerful lifting mechanism the carrier would be self destructive.

The operation of the device is as follows: Assuming that a pile of lumber has been placed on the blocks 29, the operator drives his carrier straddling over the pile and operates his lifting mechanism to raise the angles 31 and lift the load 28 from the ground until it presses against the rubber covered cable with sufficient force to completely bind the load under the tension of the springs 22. It will be noted that there is an angularity between the horizontal portion of the rubber covered cable and its ends which pass over the sheaves 19 causing the load to be held toward the center, as well as downwardly. This results in an ideal condition Since in many instances certain of the. boards will be higher than others, which would leave the till lower boards loose, regardless of the amount of purely downward clamping, but with the use of this flexible and yielding binder it is possible to hold the boards on their edges as well as on their flat sides.

In many instances a workman is apt to build his pile of lumber too high, making it impossible for the operator ot the carrier to raise the 1 ad high enough to provide ample clearance under the blocks 29. This causes the blocks to catch on obstructions which they would have cleared had they been properly elevated, either destroying the block by tearing; same to pieces, or stopping the load with a sudden jolt, or actually pulling the block 2%) out of engagement with the angles 3i, causing the entire load to be freed, making it llllPOSSlblG to again pick same up without the entire repiling of the load.

lVith this device, however, it the pile is too high and the :arrier s driven over the pile the rubber covered section the cable 26 merely slides the top boards oii of the pile thereby limiting its maximum height to a point which will insure proper road clearance when the load is lifted.

It can be easily understood that when piling lumber 01' any kind by hand it is exceed ine ly difficult to get all of the boards in clot contact with each other. This means that when picked. up by a carrier and firmly clamped by a rigid clamp in a downward direction, as is often done, that as the load is jolted around in transit it gradually becomes loos-1c, unless a means is provided for taking up this accumulating slack.

It is for this purpose. as well as to prevent the actual destruction of the binder, due to over-landing, that the springs 22 are em- 'llfiyO/(l which automatically take up the slack as the load becomes more compact.

Again, as suggested, if the portion of the cable covered by the hose 26 is replaced by a solid member this will clamp on the high spots only leaving the low boards free to slide lengthwise.

I am aware that many forms of load binders have been constructed in the past ran ing from the chain which completely enc rcles the load of the horse drawn vehicle to more recent at tempts of clamping the load down between clamps by means of screws and compounded blocks; I therefore do not claim load-binding devices broadly, but I do intend to corer all such forms and modifications of this device as fall fairly within the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A load binder "for lumber carriers which are adapted to straddle a pile of lumber and raise same up bodily consisting ot a czble mounted transversely across the arch oi? said carrier having yieldable supports for the ends of said cable.

2. it lead binder tor lumber carriers conskating o a pair of cables adapted to be mean .cd transversely across the lumber carrier near the top of its load-bearing comk tmeat, each of said cables having a sheave mitside of each side of the load from which said cable ends extend to a lower fastening baring inlerposei'l springs between said cables and fastening.

3. in a binder for lumber carriers, the ombination. of a pair of spaced vertical brackets adapted to be mounted on opposite sides of a carrier, each of said brackets having a sheave near the top thereof; a cable pass ng across both of said sheaves; eye bolts passing through the lower end of said brackets and havin snine's on the lower end thereof and having their eyes secured to said cable, said springs serving to hold said cable in tension at all times; and a rubber covering over that port on of the cable between said sheaves.

JOSEPH S. EASTHAM. 

